REGULATORY WATCH

Privacy, AI governance and data protection developments across the US and the EU, from regulators, legislatures and courts.

⚖️ Latest developments 🌐 Jurisdictions 📚 Law library
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30
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Topic: targeted advertising · clear
102 developments
Low Enforcement Filed Germany · Feb 21, 2025
noyb files GDPR complaints against six German parties for illegal political microtargeting
In March 2023, noyb filed complaints with the Berlin and Bavarian Data Protection Authorities alleging that six German political parties used political microtargeting on Facebook during the 2021 election, violating Article 9 GDPR. The DPAs…
Berlin Data Protection Authority; Bavarian Data Protection Authority · General Data Protection Regulation
Low Enforcement Filed DE-NRW · Feb 12, 2025
noyb files complaint against WetterOnline for refusing GDPR access request
WetterOnline shares precise location data with more than 300 third‑party advertising companies and rejected a data‑subject access request, citing a "disproportionate effort". noyb filed a complaint with the North Rhine‑Westphalia data…
Data protection authority of North Rhine-Westphalia · General Data Protection Regulation
Moderate Court ruling Decided Ireland · Jan 29, 2025
EU General Court rules Irish DPC acted unlawfully for refusing to investigate noyb complaint
The EU General Court held that the Irish Data Protection Commission unlawfully refused to investigate a complaint filed by noyb. The court dismissed the DPC's claims against the European Data Protection Board. The case can now be appealed…
Irish Data Protection Commission · General Data Protection Regulation
Moderate Enforcement Decided European Union · Dec 13, 2024
EDPS finds European Commission illegally used political micro‑targeting
The European Data Protection Supervisor issued a decision that the European Commission illegally targeted ads using sensitive political data. The EDPS issued only a reprimand, noting no fine was needed as the practice stopped. The decision…
European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) · General Data Protection Regulation
Low Enforcement Filed France · Dec 12, 2024
noyb files complaint against BeReal for forced consent dark pattern in France
noyb has lodged a complaint with the French data protection authority (CNIL) alleging that BeReal uses a dark‑pattern consent banner that forces users to accept tracking for advertising. The complaint argues the consent is not freely…
CNIL · General Data Protection Regulation
Low Enforcement Pending Ireland · Nov 12, 2024
Meta proposes "less personalized" ads that use location and age without consent, sparking GDPR enforcement concerns
Meta announced a new ad option that will still use personal data such as location and date of birth without obtaining consent, which noyb says violates the GDPR. The organization has filed pending litigation against Meta for this and…
Irish Data Protection Commission · General Data Protection Regulation
Low Enforcement Filed France · Oct 22, 2024
noyb files complaint against Pinterest for unlawful tracking without consent
noyb lodged a complaint with the French data protection authority (CNIL) alleging that Pinterest tracks EU users for personalised advertising without obtaining opt‑in consent. The complaint cites a CJEU ruling that legitimate interest…
CNIL · General Data Protection Regulation
Moderate Court ruling Decided European Union · Oct 4, 2024
CJEU rules Meta must minimise use of personal data for ads
The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) held that Meta must limit the processing of personal data for online advertising to what is strictly necessary, applying the GDPR data‑minimisation principle regardless of consent. It also…
EDPB · General Data Protection Regulation
Low Enforcement Filed Austria · Sep 25, 2024
noyb files complaint against Mozilla over default ‘Privacy Preserving Attribution’ feature in Firefox
noyb lodged a complaint with the Austrian Data Protection Authority alleging that Mozilla enabled a ‘Privacy Preserving Attribution’ feature in Firefox by default without informing users or obtaining consent. The feature allows Firefox to…
Austrian Data Protection Authority (DSB) · General Data Protection Regulation
High Fine In effect European Union · Jul 29, 2024
European data protection authorities fined Meta, Spotify, Criteo and others in 2023 for GDPR violations
In 2023, the Irish DPC ordered Meta to pay €390 million and later €1.2 billion, the Swedish DPA fined Spotify €58 million SEK, and the French CNIL fined Criteo €40 million for breaches of consent and data‑subject rights under EU law.
EDPB · General Data Protection Regulation
Low Enforcement Filed Italy · Jul 9, 2024
noyb files GDPR complaint against Microsoft’s Xandr for 0% compliance with data subject rights
Xandr, a Microsoft subsidiary, collects and shares personal data of millions of Europeans for targeted advertising, including sensitive categories. noyb filed a GDPR complaint with Italy’s Garante alleging breaches of Articles 5, 12, 15…
Italian data protection authority (Garante) · General Data Protection Regulation
Moderate Fine Decided Norway (EEA) · Jul 1, 2024 · effective Jul 1, 2024
Norwegian court confirms €5.7M fine for Grindr over GDPR breach
A Norwegian court upheld a fine of NOK 65 million (€5.7 million) against Grindr for violating the GDPR by sharing user data with advertisers. The ruling follows a complaint by the Norwegian Consumer Council, supported by noyb.
EDPB · General Data Protection Regulation
Low Enforcement Filed Austria · Jun 13, 2024
noyb files complaint with Austrian DPA over Google Chrome consent pop‑up
noyb alleges that Google Chrome’s “Privacy Sandbox” pop‑up misleads users into consenting to first‑party tracking for targeted advertising. The complaint asks the Austrian data protection authority to require Google to cease processing…
Austrian Data Protection Authority · General Data Protection Regulation
Moderate Investigation Announced Austria · Jun 4, 2024
noyb files complaints urging Austrian DSB to investigate Microsoft 365 Education for GDPR violations affecting children
noyb has lodged two complaints with Austria's data protection authority alleging that Microsoft 365 Education breaches GDPR rights of minors by shifting responsibility to schools, providing vague privacy information, and tracking users…
Austrian Data Protection Authority (DSB) · General Data Protection Regulation
Moderate Interpretation Published European Union · Apr 25, 2024
CJEU Advocate General says Facebook must limit personal data for ads under GDPR data‑minimisation
The Advocate General’s opinion interprets Article 5(1)(c) GDPR to require Meta to restrict the use of personal data for targeted advertising by time, type and source. It also addresses purpose‑limitation, stating that publicly disclosed…
EDPB · General Data Protection Regulation
Moderate Interpretation Published European Union · Apr 17, 2024
EDPB opinion bars Meta from using 'Pay or Okay' consent model
The European Data Protection Board issued an opinion stating that Meta may not rely on a pay‑or‑consent scheme to process personal data for behavioural advertising. The decision requires Meta to offer a genuine opt‑in choice rather than a…
European Data Protection Board · General Data Protection Regulation
Low Court ruling Decided European Union · Apr 9, 2024
CJEU ruling in July 2023 declares Meta's data handling illegal, prompting pay‑or‑consent model
A Court of Justice of the European Union ruling in July 2023 found Meta's handling of user data illegal. In response, Meta introduced a paid subscription in November 2023 that forces users to either pay or consent to tracking for targeted…
Moderate Guidance Announced European Union · Mar 19, 2024
EDPB to issue binding opinion on Meta's 'Pay or Okay' consent model
The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) plans to issue a binding opinion on the legality of Meta's "Pay or Okay" system that charges users to refuse tracking. The opinion could legitimize the practice across the EU, threatening the GDPR…
European Data Protection Board · General Data Protection Regulation
Moderate Guidance Announced European Union · Feb 16, 2024
28 NGOs urge EU Data Protection Board to reject Meta's 'Pay or Okay' consent model
A coalition of 28 NGOs, including Wikimedia Europe, Bits of Freedom and the Norwegian Consumer Council, sent a joint letter to the European Data Protection Board requesting a binding opinion on Meta's "Pay or Okay" system, which forces…
European Data Protection Board (EDPB) · General Data Protection Regulation
Low Enforcement Filed Austria · Jan 11, 2024
Meta sued for charging users to withdraw consent in Austria
Noyb filed a complaint with the Austrian Data Protection Authority alleging that Meta forces users to pay up to €251.88 per year to withdraw consent for tracking. The complaint cites Article 7 of the GDPR, which requires withdrawal to be…
Austrian Data Protection Authority (DSB) · General Data Protection Regulation
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Coming up
Oct 2026
19
FCC proposes to modify system of records for National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program
United States (federal) · effective
Oct 2026
19
FCC modifies Lifeline Program system of records (FCC/WCB-1) under the Privacy Act
United States (federal) · effective
Oct 2026
26
Peace Corps announces new CRM system of records (PC 38) effective Oct 26, 2026
United States (federal) · effective
Oct 2026
28
HHS modifies ORR Unaccompanied Children system of records, effective Oct 28, 2026
United States (federal) · effective
Oct 2026
29
Italian Garante's tracking-pixel guidelines become effective Oct 29, 2026
Italy · effective
Oct 2026
29
Italian Garante's tracking-pixel guidelines become effective Oct 29, 2026
Italy · compliance deadline
Nov 2026
2
DOI establishes new matching program under Privacy Act of 1974
United States (federal) · effective
Nov 2026
5
Treasury exempts new tip intake records from certain Privacy Act provisions
United States (federal) · effective
Nov 2026
6
Treasury proposes new system of records for federal student aid data
United States (federal) · effective
Nov 2026
16
NARA proposes revisions to System of Records NARA 44 for reasonable accommodation requests
United States (federal) · effective
Nov 2026
24
Farm Credit Administration amends employee payroll system of records under Privacy Act, effective Nov 24, 2026
United States (federal) · effective
Dec 2026
20
AEPD launches call for articles for third issue of Revista PIT on GDPR and emerging regulations
Spain · compliance deadline
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